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War in Ukraine: Russia's annexation referendums have begun

2022-09-23T19:27:37.891Z


The inhabitants of the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporijjia, in the south and east of the country, are called to vote in hundreds of polling stations.


Annexation referendums by Russia began on Friday (September 23rd) in four regions of Ukraine wholly or partly controlled by Moscow.

These polls are described as "

simulacra

" by Kiev and the West and mark a major escalation of the conflict that began on February 24.

The G7 has also condemned these “

false referendums

”, which it “

will never recognize

”.

To discover

  • Follow information on the war in Ukraine with the Figaro application

International criticism has not stopped Moscow from pursuing its plans for referendums in Ukraine.

The votes, which started at 5:00 GMT (7:00 a.m. French time), will end on September 27 in the separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk (east), and in areas under Russian occupation in the regions of Kherson and Zaporijjia (south) .

Hundreds of polling stations are to be opened in the four territories.

Thus, 450 and 461 polling stations will be opened respectively in the region of Donetsk and Lugansk, to the east.

Zaporizhia will have 394 and the Kherson region in the south 198.

Read alsoLife in southern Ukraine under the yoke of invaders: the story of the special envoy of

Le Figaro

Several polling stations have also opened in Russia to allow the voting of "

refugees

" who fled the fighting, according to Russian news agencies.

But the ballot, announced in haste this week against the backdrop of Ukrainian military successes, is also going door-to-door, with pro-Russian officials going to buildings with mobile ballot boxes to get people to vote, according to media images. Russians.

A man voting in the referendum.

MOSCOW NEWS AGENCY / REUTERS

Demonstrations of support

We hope that after the referendum, they will stop bombing us, that we will have peace and order

,” Vladimir Choutov, from the Lugansk region and who came to vote at the Donetsk representation, told AFP. in Moscow.

In Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities, the authorities organized demonstrations in support of the referendums with a lot of flags and slogans.

"

These referendums are a step towards this peace

," said Viktor Suvorov, 40, present at the Moscow rally, a stone's throw from Red Square.

A demonstration of support for Saint Petersburg.

OLGA MALTSEVA / AFP

In Ukraine, in Chevchenkové, the Ukrainian official Andriï Kanachevitch protested to AFP against “

illegal

” elections.

"

To be honest, it sucks

," he said.

Without going so far as to denounce the polls, China, Moscow's closest partner, nevertheless went there with its criticism, calling for respect for territorial integrity.

Read alsoWar in Ukraine: these Russian men who go to the front disillusioned

On the ground, Ukraine claimed Friday the capture of Yatskivka in the Donetsk region (east).

On the separatist side, the head of Donetsk Denis Pushilin spoke of an "

extremely difficult

" situation north of his city.

In the Lugansk region, another separatist official, Andrei Marochko, reported on Ukrainian bombardments, noting that Kiev forces "

want to do everything to derail the referendum

".

If the result of these referendums is beyond doubt, they in any case herald an escalation of the conflict, with Moscow going so far as to threaten nuclear strikes to defend what it considers to be “

its

” territory.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-09-23

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